I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World (Young Readers Edition)

"I Am Malala" is an incredibly powerful and inspiring memoir that offers a remarkable insight into the life of Malala Yousafzai. Her story not only details the harrowing events surrounding her attack by the Taliban but also sheds light on the resilience, courage, and unwavering commitment to education that define her.Overall, "I Am Malala" is not just a story about a girl who survived a horrific attack; it's a testament to the power of education, resilience, and the unwavering courage of an extraordinary individual. It's a book that educates, inspires, and leaves a lasting impact, urging readers to reflect on the importance of standing up for what you believe in, regardless of the challenges one faces.It's a must-read for anyone seeking inspiration and a deeper understanding of the pursuit of education and human rights in the face of adversity.

It would be disrespectful to discuss Malala Yousafzai’s story without first discussing her cause. Millions of children around the world are denied the right to education. Child labor, sex trafficking, war, and other major issues continue to bring about child suffering and oppression. Malala’s story should be a call to activism. This is a fight we should all join, for without education, there is no hope for peace.What happened to Malala, therefore, is important in so much as it is a reminder of the stakes. There are forces in the world seeking to oppress education, especially for women. Education is the enemy of regimes founded on terror, patriarchy, and privilege. Yet, it is an idea with no face and a billion faces.This book tells a simple, but powerful story. It begins by establishing the charmingly average life of a Pakistani family. They are like any other household. Then natural disaster hits in the form of a 7.6 earthquake and this opens the doors for Taliban extremists to broker public fear into power. The Yousafzai family finds themselves at the heart of the conflict in their hometown of Swat, and they decide it is better to die on your feet than live on your knees. Malala’s father leads the way, and Malala finds her first platform to tell the world of the injustices being imposed by the Taliban. She was only 10. Suddenly this ordinary girl grows into an extraordinary voice, and it nearly cost her life.The second half of this book deals with Malala’s recovery after her near death experience at the hands of the Taliban. It is even more about how she rediscovered her voice and doubled-down on her activism. I found myself inspired by her mix of humility and passionate resolve, as well as her commitment to her own education even as she became an international figure.I highly recommend this book for teens, especially American teens who, despite our own issues in terms of access and equity, often seem to take education for granted. While American education is compulsory for all, it is not guaranteed in perpetuity. The fight to ensure we can continue providing education for all of our nation’s children cannot stop. Threats of defunding, the rise of private charters, and obscene income disparity all challenge the quality of and access to our public school system. There’s a thin line between America and Pakistan, and Malala’s story is a prime example of how those lines can be crossed.

As soon as I got this in the mail I started reading it and I couldn't put the book down. It is such a good read.

A powerful read by Malala Yousafzai, the girl born in Pakistan and shot by Taliban only because she wanted to go to school and be educated and who later went on to be the youngest ever to win a Nobel Peace Prize. She never stopped to dream although her life was caught between the military and the militants. TV, music, going to school was forbidden or considered 'haram' in her country cutting her and her community completely from the outside world. She talks about the strange feeling of getting used to bombing, shelling and darkness as a 11 year old. On the flip side, she also narrates her beautiful bond between a father and daughter, the cute rivalry between siblings, the precious close knit bonding within the family reminding me of my own.My fav line from the book: "Sometimes when the journalists see my brothers playing so freely, they ask if I am being robbed of a childhood by my campaign for children’s rights. I tell them to think of a girl who is married off at eleven. Or a little boy who has to pick through the rubbish heap to earn money for his family. Or the children who have been killed by bombs and bullets. They are the ones who have been robbed of a childhood."Malala turned a tragedy into an opportunity. Need I say more? Pick up and read this book today.